Washing machine



May 25 1926.

J.. P. MARTIN l wAsHING.r1AoH1NE Filed August 16, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l tub, whereby the machine may wash a fewl Patented MayrZS, 1926.

UNITED STATES PA JOHN r. MARTIN, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. f

WASHING MACHINE.

Application mea August 16, 1924. serial No. 732,450.

This invention is for a washing machine of the reciprocating cone orbell type, and constitutes an impovement on the machine shown in my Patent No'. 1,528,682, Man 3, 1925. f

The present invention has for its principal object to provide a machine wherein the same variations of pressure are secured in the cone, but to a greater degree, and with a more simple and cheaper, and a more durable construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reciprocable cone washer wherein the range of movement of the cone may be adjusted` with respect to the bottom of the clothes with` the same degree of efficiency that it washes a tub full. f

Further objects are to provide an improved mechanical construction simplifying the construction and operation of the machine, and to provide a machine which will insure the effective washing of all clothes,

y including those which are unusually soiled.

These and other objects and advantagesare obtained by my invention, as will be hereinafter more fully appa-rent.

According to the present invention, I propose to provide a reciprocable cone in the 1 tub, but instead of having a pump located inside the cone, I provide pumping means outside of the cone, preferably below the tub, andv convey air to and from the cone through a suitable conduit.

The invention maybe readily understood by reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents a vertical section my improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the plane of line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the reciprocating cross head at the top of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the pump piston and crank shaft bearing.

In the drawings, 5` designates a tub which is supportedin a suitable frame,`the frameV including upper and lowertub supporting rings 6 and 7 respectively, and supporting legs 8.

Set inside of the tub is a clothes receptacle 9 having a fiared upper portion 10, the edges of which rest on the top of thetub to khold y the receptacle in suspension in the tub, with its bottom and the vertical portion vof its through side spaced away from the tub. The vertical wall of the receptacle and the bottom, which is preferably corrugated, are amply perforated with small holes to permit of a circulation of water through the receptacle-; The reeptacle may be readily lifted out of the tu Supported on the frame below the tub is a motor 11 which drives shaft 12. The shaft has an intermediate worm gear 13 thereon and an end worm. 14 thereon. form 14 drives a vertical shaft 15 through pinion 15, and this shafthoperates the conventional swinging wringer, indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 2; l

form 13 engages pinion r16, loose on a shaft 17, disposed at right angles to the shaft. 12 and extending across a diameter of the tub. This shaft will hereinafter be called the crank shaft, yand is supported at opposite sides of the tub on the frame below the tub by bearing members 18. Each member 18 hasassociated therewith a support 19, on

the upper end of which is a piston 20.

Pinion 16 hasa clutch member 21 associated therewith. Splined on the crank shaft is a cooperating clutch member 22 operated by a suitabler yoke 23 and lever 24 into `and out of engagement with member 21.

When clutch members 21 and 22 are cooperating, the crank shaft may be Adriven from the motor. N

The ends of the crank shaft 17 projectr beyond the sides of the tub and on each end is a crank 25.

OnV each side of the tub, and carried by the frame, directly over the ends of the crank shaft, are guide membersy 26. Slidable vertically in these guides, one at each side of the tub, are vertical rods 27 and 28. A pitman 29y connects one of the cranks 25 withrod 27, and a pitman 30 connectsthe other crank with the other rod 28. Thus, when the crank shaft rotates, rods `27 and 28 are moved up and down inunison.

f Fixed toy the upper end of rod 27, which is in the form of a pipe, its interior being hollow, is 'a block 3l having trunnions 32 projecting therefrom. These trunnions engage the reciprocating cross head 33. This cross head, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, comprises a. metal bar folded at one end to provide two parallel spaced apart lengths 34, connected at 35. The free ends of these lengths engage the trunnions 32 vertical pipe having a wa and are held in spaced relation by block 3l. Nuts 36 on the trunnions hold the ends from spreading. At the center of the cross head are clamping blocks 37 that are operated toward and from each other by hand screws 3S.

On the upper end of rod 28 is secured a block 39, having flat shoulders 40 on its upper surface, and having a' vertical extension 4l thereon, which is bent over toward the tub to provide a. hook, as indicated `at 42. This hooked extension normally projects through the other` end of the cross-head.

Secured to the cross-head is a latch for cooperation with the hook. This latch comprises a reciprocable member 43 on the top of the cross-head, having straps 44 that er:- tend over the sides of the cross-head and under the cross-head for slidably retaining it in place., At 45 is a keeper for assisting in retaining the latch in position. Springs 46 urge the latch into latching engagement with the hook. Tn the latch n'iember 43 is a slot 4T through which extends a lever 4S pivoted to the cross-head between the bars at 49 and having a handle 5() at its free upper ent. Upon movement of this lever, the latch may be moved toward and from the hook 42.

p lVhen the latch is cooperating with the hook, the vcross-head is held firmly down against the flat shoulders on block 39, so that there is no lost motion. When the parts are thus engaged, the cross-head may be reciprocated by rods 27 and 28. Then the latch is disengaged, and this would only be done whenthe cross-head is not being operated, the cross-head may be swung upwardly, pivoting on trunnions 32 until it is past vertical position, where it will not obstruct access to the interior of the tub. A lug 5l may be secured to the pivoted end of the cross-head to limit it from moving a very great distance past center.

,-rdjustably fixed between clamps 37 is a sliing cone 53 on its lower end. This cone has a relatively7 large diameter with respect to the diameter' of the perforated receptacle, and has a perforated web 54 on the inside thereof. Pipe 52 terminates in an outlet member' 55 that has several outlet passages, as shown.

At the top of pipe 52 is a T-connection having a valve 56 at one side thereof and having its other side connected with a flex4 ible pipe or hose 57 that joins a connector on the top of rod 27. l

Rod 27 screws into a cylinder head 60 at its lower end, while rod 28 connects with a somewhat similar head 6l. Head 6l communicates with head 60 through pipe 62. Rod 28 has no connection with its cylinder, so no air passes up the rod 2S. Rod 2T, on the other hand, communicates with both cylinder heads 60 and 6l. Each cylinder head carries a cylinder' 63. These cylinders cooperate with stationary pistons 20 on supports 19.

`Each of the cylinders 63 has two series of ports therein near the upper end thereof, one series 64 being above the other series 65. The distance between the two series is just a little greater than the thickness of the piston. A casing or jacket 66 connects ports 64 and 65. Near the bottom of each cylinder is a series of ports 67.

ln operation, the reciprocation of rods 2i' and 28 moves the cross-head 3B to reciprocate the washing cone 53. At the same time, cylinders 63 are reciprocated, moving in the same direction as the cross-head. With the parts in the lowermost position shown in Fig. l,`atmospheric pressure obtains in the cone and various pipes, the system being open to atmosphere around pistons 2O through ports 64 and 65. As the cross-head lifts, the cylinders rise up, ports being closed to atmosphere by the initial upward movement of the cylinder'. llhereaftery a suction is created in the system, including the immersed washing cones which draws water up into the cone. This suction also lifts the clothes and keeps them from packing.

)is the uppermost limit of the cross-head is reached, ports 67 are uncovered, and atmospheric pressure is restored in the cone, letting the water therein seek its level. Then, as the motion reverses and the cylinders move down, air is forced or pumped into the cone which forces water through the clothes as the cone bears down against them. Some of the air will also be forced through the clothes. As ports 65 are uncovered on the downward movement, the pressure in the cone is again restored to atmospheric, and the cycle is ready to start again.

This action of the cone, together with the pumping of air and water through the clothes, provides a highly etlicient and satisfactory way of washing the clothes, without subjecting the clothes to undue wear.

By suitable operation of the clamps 37, the cone may be properly positioned with respect to the bottom of the tub so as to operate to the best advantage when there l of clothes in the recepor when there are only a few. It will,

be moved down closer to the botbut a few clothes to be are a large number tacle, of course, tom when there are washed.

Valve 56 is provided to relieve the. suction in the system, should it be desired to open the cross-head, in the manner hereinbefore described, when the machine is stopped on the upward or suction stroke.

The tub may have a removable cover G8, which is slotted in from one edge to receive the pipe 52.

The arrangement of the piston and cylinders is'such that they may be kept well forced-into the cone.

lubricated without liability of grease being The iiexible pipe 57 is used, ot' course, to permit of the adjustment of the cone vertically, and to permit of the swinging movement of the crosshead.

Various changes and: modifications may be made in the construction of the invention y within the contemplation of my inventionL and under the scope of the appended claims.

fhat'l claim is 1. A washing machine comprising a tub, a vertically reciprocable washing cone inthe tub, means for driving the washing element, and pumping means outside the tub communicating with the cone for forcing air into the cone on the downward movementof the cone and tor removing air from the cone on the upward movement thereof, said pumping means including` means for restoring atmospheric pressure in the cone at each limit of its travel.

2. A washing machine comprising a tub, a washing element in the tub, means ior operating the washing element, and a pump below the tub having a reciprocable cylinder connected with said operating means for al- .K

ternately forcing air into the washing' element and exhausting air therefrom.

3. A washing machine including a tub, a reciprocable washing cone in the tub, means ior reciprocating the cone vertically, a reciprocable pump cylinder and a iXed-,co` acting plunger outside the tub communicating with the. washing cone, said pump cylinder being operatively connected with said cone reciprocating means to move in synchronisin therewith.

et. A washing' machine including a tub, a reciproeable washing cone in the tub, means for reciprocating the cone vertically, a reciprocable pump outside Ithe tub communicating` with the washing cone, said pump being operatively connected with said cone reciprocating means to move in synchronism therewith, and means associated with the pump for restoring atmospheric pressure in the cone at each limit ot movement in the cone, said pump serving to force air into the cone on the downward movement of the cone and to exhaust air therefrom on the upward movement.

5. A washing machine including a tub, a

vertically recipiocable cross head above thev tub a reciorocable um) c 7lin'der a verticall reci 'irocable rod at one side of the tub to which one end or the cross-head is pivotally secured, a similar rod at the other side of the machine, a latch mechanism detachably connecting the other end of the cross-head with theV second rod, means for reciprocating said rods vertically'in unison, and a washing cone carried by the crosshead extending down into the tub,one of said rods forming a conduit between the retub, a reciprocable pump cylinder, a vertically reciprocable rod at one side of the tub to which one end of the cross-head ispivotally secured, a similar rod at the. other side of the machine, a latch mechanism detachably connecting the other end of the crosshead Vwit-li the second rod, means for reciprocating said rods vertically in unison, and a washing cone adjustably carried by the cross-liead extending down into the tub, one of said rods toi-ming a conduit between the` reciprocable cylinder and the interior of the cone.`

7. A washing machine including a tub, a vertically reciprocable cross head above the tub,y a vertically reciprocable hollow rod4 at one side of the tub, to the uppery end of which one end oi the cross-head is pivotally secured, a. second vertically reciprocable rod at the other side of the tub, a detachable connection between the other end of the cross-head and the-second rod, a pipe extending from the cross-head into the tub, a washing cone on the lower end of the pipe, a ilexible pipe connection between said pipe and said lirst hollow reciprocable rod, pumping means'at the lower end oi' said hollow rod for alternately forcing air thereinto and into the cone and withdrawing air therefrom, and means for reciprocating` the rods 8. A washing machine rincluding a tub, a vertically reciprocable cross head above the tub, a kvertically reciprocable hollow rod at. one side of the tub, to the upper end of `a washing'cone on the lower end oil the pipe,

a flexible pipe kconnection between said pipe and said first hollow reciprocable rod, a cylinder carried by the lower end of the hollow rod and communicating therewith, a stationar f piston with which the cylinder coacts, said cylinder having ports therein which are closed and opened to atmosphere by the piston and located at opposite limits of movement ofy the cylinder, said cylinder thereby servino' to torce` air into the cone on its downward movement and remove air therefrom on its upward movement, and atmospheric ypressure being restored through said ports ateach limit of movement, and means under the tub for reciprocating the rods.

9. The combination with a washing inaf chinel having a tub `and a reciprocable washing the washing element, and :L pair o' suitably ported to restore atmospheric prospumping` units under the tub communentsure in the cone at enoh limit of their mo\I e ing with the Washing element and eomprsment. 10 ing an inverted cylinder carried by and re- In testimony whereof I hereunto afx my Cproeated with the means for reciprocating signature.

the Washing' element, and u stationary piston for each Cylinder, said cylinder being JOHN I). MARTIN. 

